VivirLatino

The following text (which was sent to me in an email) reminds me of La Mala’s fiery words about how this election can not be the ‘end’ of political mobilization, even if the Obama/Biden ticket wins. It answers the question, how can you vote for a third party candidate while also supporting Obama?

It also deals with the constant pitfall so many organizers fall into–thinking that an election cycle represents the beginning and ending of a campaign. In other words, what would happen if those interested in third party candidates consider a ‘campaign’ to be 7 years, or 12 years, or 30 years long?

Support Obama, and Vote McKinney? Not a contradiction.
The women of color running for President & Vice President

By Amee Chew

October 2008

The Green Party Presidential ticket of Cynthia McKinney and Rosa Clemente brings something special and unprecedented to U.S. politics. Not only are they the first all women-of-color ticket for President and Vice President with ballot access in most states.[1] These women take racial justice seriously, and have made strides to put gender at the center of a progressive agenda. For these two, it’s more than skin deep.

They’re the Presidential ticket that talks about amnesty for undocumented workers, that opposes guest worker programs as riddled with abuses, because they believe a just immigration reform means addressing the trade and economic policies fueling poverty and migration. They’re the ticket that demands reparations in the form of federal investment in low-income families and communities of color, to end racial disparities in health, housing, education, and incarceration. They call for the right of return for Katrina survivors; an end to prisons for profit, to the War on Drugs. And they speak of reproductive justice – not just the right to abortion, but actual healthcare access; of freedom from coerced or uninformed medication and sterilization.

Nowhere do we see Nader, or white male Third-Party-politics-as-usual, bringing in these issues – this slice on life, or sensitivity. McKinney, for instance, points out that Social Security cuts will disproportionately harm women. The Green Party candidates offer to do us the public service of contesting Palin’s brand of “feminism.” Let’s take them up on it.

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